ORDER OF SERVICE FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2022
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Due to copyright limitations, we are unable to print the words to many of the songs. However, our musicians have chosen music to fit the scriptures. We invite you to look up the words in your worship book and ponder them. If you do not have a worship book, ponder the words to one of your favourite hymns and listen for God’s voice. Those who have internet may find the songs on YouTube.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most? When they done good and made things easy for everybody? Well then, you ain’t through learning – because that ain’t the time at all. It’s when he’s at his lowest and can’t believe in hisself ‘cause the world done whipped him so! When you starts measuring somebody, measure him right, child, measure him right. Make sure you done taken into account what hills and valleys he come through before he got to wherever he is.”
~from A Raisin In The Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry
BEFORE WE WORSHIP, WE REFLECT…
Names are powerful makers of meaning both in the scriptures and in our lives. Consider how much we associate people with their names. A name is merely a word, a sound, yet it can completely represent a person. And our names can be powerful. Think about the resurrection account in John 20 when a distraught Mary Magdalene does not recognize Jesus in the garden. She does not recognize him until when? He speaks her name.
The texts for the fourth Sunday of Advent invite us to explore the name “Emmanuel.” “Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14). And he shall be called “Emmanuel,” God with us. This reality changes everything. Never is God so with us as in Jesus of Nazareth. Here is God-made-flesh, and in his very name, the Son of God proclaims just how with us and for us God really is. This fulfillment of prophetic promise offers us a delicate and dramatic reality: God has slipped into skin and walks among us in a totally new way, offering us life and salvation.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge we gather and worship on Treaty 1 Territory, the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.
As First Peoples have done since time immemorial, we strive to be responsible stewards of the land and respect the cultures, ceremonies, and traditions of all who call it home. As we open our hearts and minds to the past, we commit ourselves to working in a spirit of truth and reconciliation to make a better future for all.
CALL TO WORSHIP
We are waiting on you, God. We are still waiting.
The darkness is deeper, but look! The star is beginning to shine. The everlasting light is creeping closer. Hope is in the air. Peace is promised. Joy is on the tips of our tongues.
Love is coming. Love divine, all loves excelling.
We are waiting on love. And Love is waiting on us.
CHILDREN’S SONG: WOV 744 Soon, And Very Soon
CENTERING PRAYER
Shepherd of Israel, may Jesus, Emmanuel and son of Mary, be more than just a dream in our hearts. With the apostles, prophets, and saints, save us, restore us, and lead us in the way of grace and peace, that we may bear your promise into the world. Amen.
A NEW CREED
We are not alone; we live in God’s world.
We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God’s presence, to live with respect in Creation, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God.
CHILDREN’S CHAT
How do we get each other’s attention? We can yell at each other, “Hey! I need your attention!” Or, we can tap some one the shoulder and say quietly, “I need to speak with you.” Or, we can phone someone, text someone, tweet someone, write a letter, use an airplane…
How does God get our attention? Mostly through other people in our lives. When others give us words of love, that is God talking. When we receive kindness from others, that is God talking. When we feel moved to help others, that is God talking.
God uses actions as well as words to get our attention. The important part is that we take the time to listen for God’s voice. Not sure if it is God talking? Well, is there love in the words? As long as there is love, then it is God talking, because God is love.
MINUTE FOR MISSION: Your Generosity Supports Life-Changing Arts Programs for Children
We all know what it’s like to feel our spirit lift at the first note of music or to sense our minds being pried open by an enlightening radio or television show. Deep down we know that art changes our lives.
For hundreds of children living in Córdoba, Colombia, arts programs supported through your Mission & Service gifts teach children about their rights, give them an opportunity to express themselves, and promote peace-making as well as gender justice.
“Providing workshops for children that teach them about their rights empowers them to think critically about themselves and their country. Through media, art, music, and theatre, they learn about important social issues, human rights, and gender equality,” says the Latin American Center for Popular Communication (CEPALC).
Children are the most vulnerable group in Colombia. Eighty-four percent of violent acts in Colombia are committed against children. Two and a half million children living there work to sustain their families. Many are forced into dangerous labour. That’s why CEPALC designs programs in sectors hardest hit by poverty and violence.
“I told my mom that we had seen some works of Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Flora Tristan. I remember that they taught us that we must defend the rights of us women. What I like, in general, is that they taught us that we must make peace,” says Amelie, an eight-year-old girl who lives in Bogotá and workshop participant. “Thanks to CEPALC workshops, I’ll be a writer, and I will write things so that children will promote and defend peace, following Jesus’ examples. I will defend and promote our rights in my stories so that nobody can disrespect us or the rights that we have. When I am an adult, I won’t be doing violence against anybody.”
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Speak to us, Lord. Speak to us in the waiting, the watching, the hoping, the longing, the sorrow, the sighing, the rejoicing. Speak to us by your Word in these Advent days, and walk with us until the day of your coming. Amen
READINGS AND PSALM
First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-16
An Israelite and Aramean military coalition presented a serious threat to King Ahaz of Judah. In response, Ahaz decided to secure his throne and kingdom by seeking Assyrian help. Isaiah reminds Ahaz that human attempts to establish security will fail. The prophet gives the sign that is the only source of true safety: Immanuel, God is with us!
10The Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. 12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. 13Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. 15He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.”
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
R: Let your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved. (Ps. 80:7)
1Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock;
shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.
2In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,
stir up your strength and come to help us.
3Restore us, O God; let your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved.
4O Lord God of hosts, how long will your anger fume when your people pray? R
5You have fed them with the bread of tears; you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
6You have made us the derision of our neighbors, and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
7Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved.
17Let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,
the one you have made so strong for yourself.
18And so will we never turn away from you; give us life, that we may call upon your name.
19Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved. R
Second Reading: Romans 1:1-7
Most of the Christians in Rome do not know Paul. In this letter’s opening he introduces himself as an apostle divinely appointed to spread God’s gospel. The gospel’s content is the promised coming of Christ, and Paul’s mission is to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations, including his Roman audience.
1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, 6including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25
Matthew’s story of Jesus’ birth focuses on the role of Joseph, who adopts the divinely-begotten child into the family of David and obediently gives him the name Jesus, which means “God saves.”
18Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
Which means, “God is with us.”24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
HYMN: VU 9 People, Look East
SERMON
Things are not always as they seem. Take our Gospel text for today. As I read this story, I get the feeling that there is a lot that is not being said. Let’s look at history and ancient Jewish society as accurately as we can to see if there isn’t more to this story than meets the eye.
To begin, we have Mary, who becomes pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Notice that there is no angel, Gabriel. There is no word of Mary acquiescing to God. She is just “found to be with child”. This is a problem because Mary is betrothed to Joseph, and the baby isn’t his.
Marriages in the first century were often arranged in Jewish families when the prospective bride and groom were still infants. Women had little say regarding whom they married. They could contest their chosen mate, however, since a father ruled over his daughter’s life, her protests may not have been considered. Women were the property of men to be sold via the marriage contract. I recall a United Church colleague of mine who became angry every time she read this text. “As if Mary could say no to God! I argued that Mary trusted that God would make everything work out.
Then, there is Joseph. Joseph is a law abiding, faithful Jew and a compassionate man. He is also a human being who would be concerned about his reputation and family name. Should it be found out that Mary is pregnant before the actual wedding ceremony, and people learn that Joseph divorced her, fingers would begin to point and tongues to wag that Joseph was not the father of the child, otherwise, why divorce Mary? According to Jewish law at the time, Joseph had two options — public or private divorce. Which would you pick? Of course, he’s going to choose a private divorce. Who wouldn’t? He doesn’t want his name defamed any more than anyone else, compassionate and righteous though he may be.
What about the fact that Joseph knows that the child is not his? Would there not be feelings of betrayal, anger, hurt? Joseph’s feelings are not addressed in Matthew’s story. They were experienced.
What about God? Here is this nice couple who just want to get married, live their lives and raise a family. Then, God intervenes. Mary is found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. Do you think Joseph believed this amazing story? Doubtful. What man is going to want a woman who has cheated on her betrothed and born her lover’s child? Even Mary’s father wouldn’t want her back. She has disgraced the family. She would be left to beg or prostitute herself in order to support herself and the child.
This situation is a lot deeper than the words on the page. Words are one-dimensional. These are 3-dimensional people, flesh and blood humans who live in a world that is not kind to women, in a country under Roman occupation, raised in a religion that holds up obedience to God and the laws of Moses. Mary and Joseph experienced all emotions. We are not told how Mary knew she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. We are not even told if she had a choice. Until Joseph had his dream, the future was not looking good for Mary and the baby!
Ah, the dream! Would that we all could have such communication with the Divine! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have clarification for what is going on in our lives, to be told the future, to be given a clear purpose from God, instructions included! No guesswork involved! All doubts removed! Notice that Joseph accepts his dream as fact, that he obeys without question. Notice that he sets out with Mary in faith. Whatever residual feelings from the discovery of this pregnancy there are, they are overcome by trust in a God who promises to be with them on their journey.
Mary and Joseph were faithful to their religion and to their God, waiting with the rest of Israel for the coming of the Messiah. Being chosen by God to raise the Messiah would bring more angst and pain to their lives than if God had not chosen them. Even so, the experience of parenting the child who was God far exceeded any fears.
Does God still intervene in our lives? Absolutely. Will others see those moments as divine intervention? Not necessarily. And that is OK. The message God gives is personal. The dream was experienced by Joseph in response to his situation. He trusted the message.
One of my members in my first parish had been involved in a serious car accident as a child. Their vehicle hit a moving train. Her younger brothers were killed, her mom lost a foot, and she experienced head trauma. Later on, her father committed suicide. She was mostly raised by her uncle, and when he died, in her words, “I lost my unconditional love.”
This woman felt a need one year to write her brothers a letter, telling them how much she missed them and loved them. We put a message in a jar, went out to the cemetery and buried the jar between their graves. As we turned to go back to the car, two owls flew down and landed on two of the nearby fence posts. They remained perfectly still while looking right at us. After a few minutes, they flew away. My friend was in tears. “That was my dad and my uncle! I just know it was my dad and my uncle!” She asked me if I thought that was possible. I told her that, if in her heart, she knew, then trust that knowledge. The message of those two owls was meant for her. Who was I to say otherwise? What mattered was that the presence of those owls brought her closure and peace.
We are a week from Christmas. In one week we will hear the story of terrified shepherds and a sky full of singing angels. We will hear an angel give a divine message to those specific shepherds, who will be given instructions to find the Messiah – God with us. Now that is divine intervention!
Be it angels, owls, dreams, or the words of a stranger, God still speaks to us, God still walks with us, God still intervenes in our lives. Trust the message of love that you hear. Amen.
HYMN OF THE MONTH: WOV 632 The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
As we prepare for the fullness of Christ’s presence, let us pray for a world that yearns for new hope.
God our shepherd, let your Spirit move with power throughout the church. Give discernment and wisdom to our bishops, moderators, pastors, deacons, and lay leaders. Take away our fear, so that we serve and love, confident that you are guiding us. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God our source, awaken us to the beauty of the earth and the marvelous variety of life. Unite humankind in repairing and caring for your creation. Protect creatures and habitats in peril due to rising seas and warming temperatures. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God our vision, raise up leaders in every nation who dream of freedom and justice for all people. We pray for the work of international organizations that promote peace and human rights, especially Amnesty International. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God our helper, come to the aid of all who cry out to you. Shelter migrants, refugees, and those fleeing war and famine. Bring relief to individuals and families experiencing hunger, homelessness, or impoverishment. Comfort any who are isolated or lonely. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God our Emmanuel, you are with us in our life together. We give you thanks for gathering us in worship and fellowship, and we remember those who cannot be present. Watch over those who travel. Heal the sick and speed their recovery. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God our hope, you bring life out of death, and you promise to be our God forever. Shine upon the faithful who now rest in the fulfillment of your promise and bring us also into your blessed reign of peace. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God of our longing, you know our deepest needs. By your Spirit, gather our prayers and join them with the prayers of all your children. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
SENDING SONG: VU 25 Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending
BENEDICTION
God the eternal Word, who dwells with us in Jesus, and who holds us in the grace of the Holy Spirit, ☩ bless you now and forever. Amen.
PRAIRIE TO PINE WEEKLY NEWS: prairietopinerc.ca
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